31:
306:
257:, the Catalinas of Nos. 11 and 20 Squadrons became the RAAF's only offensive weapon against the Japanese. Their raids on Rabaul did little to stem the Japanese advance, and in the following months Port Moresby itself was subjected to increasingly frequent attacks, which destroyed aircraft, facilities, and squadron records. In February 1942, the Short Empires operated by Nos. 11 and 20 Squadrons were transferred to the newly formed
234:, one of No. 20 Squadron's Catalinas was despatched to Western Australia to join a No. 11 Squadron Catalina in search-and-rescue missions, but they found only oil slicks. By the outbreak of war in the Pacific, No. 20 Squadron had a strength of six Catalinas and two Empire flying boats. Its personnel at the beginning of December numbered 14 officers and 118 men. The squadron undertook its first
246:, Queensland. Later in the month it commenced anti-submarine patrols and, in January 1942, bombing raids against Japanese bases. As the Japanese advanced into the South West Pacific, No. 20 Squadron was also responsible for evacuating white civilians from areas threatened by invasion. On 21 January, one of its Catalinas located the Japanese fleet steaming for
329:, Northern Territory. All three squadrons operated Catalinas, their primary purpose being mine-laying. On the night of 30 September, a Catalina of No. 20 Squadron was shot down while attacking a ship at Pomelaa in the Dutch East Indies; the loss was compounded by the fact that one of the coordinators of the mining campaign,
293:
on 11 November 1942. From Cairns it continued to conduct reconnaissance, anti-submarine and occasional bombing operations over the waters around New Guinea. Between
December 1942 and March 1943, No. 20 Squadron's aircraft flew a total of 9,629 hours and dropped 227 tons of bombs. The squadron's role
281:, "something between a shrill whistle and a scream". By 1 July, No. 20 Squadron's strength was six Catalinas and 175 personnel, out of a planned establishment of nine aircraft and 415 personnel. Its prime responsibility in early 1942 was maritime reconnaissance as far as New Guinea, the
276:
and Rabaul. On 27 June, each squadron contributed an aircraft to a four-hour raid over Lae and
Salamaua during which, as well as bombs, the RAAF crews dropped beer bottles to disrupt the enemy soldiers' sleep—the sound they made falling through the air was, according to the
220:) and 55 personnel were available initially. The squadron conducted long-range patrols between bases scattered around the islands to Australia's north in conjunction with No. 11 Squadron. On 18 November, No. 20 Squadron's Catalinas were augmented by two
365:
No. 20 Squadron's final wartime sortie was a patrol on 14 August 1945. Following the end of the war, the squadron operated in the transport role and ferried
Australian prisoners of war home from various locations in South East Asia. It relocated to
261:. No. 20 Squadron lost two Catalinas during patrols on 4 and 6 May; the nine crewmen of the first were later found to have been captured and beheaded; the crew of the second were also captured and subsequently disappeared without trace.
353:
in the
Philippines. One of No. 20 Squadron's Catalinas was lost on the night of 7/8 March, most likely owing to bad weather rather than enemy action. Three of the squadron's aircraft mined the entrance to
187:
flying boats from bases in New Guinea, Queensland and the
Northern Territory, conducting search-and-rescue, mine-laying, anti-submarine and bombing missions against Japanese targets in the
362:
harbour in China, the furthest north that any
Australian aircraft infiltrated during the war in the Pacific. Three of its aircraft flew the RAAF's last mine-laying mission on 30 July.
1552:
337:, was aboard the plane and was captured by the Japanese. Another of the squadron's Catalinas went down on the night of 27/28 January 1945, possibly in a cyclone over the
1547:
35:
Personnel of No. 20 Squadron carrying machine-gun belts speak with members of the
Parliamentary War Expenditure Committee in Darwin, Northern Territory, October 1944
1048:
191:. Following the conclusion of hostilities, the squadron was disbanded in March 1946. It was reactivated as an airfield support squadron in April 2015.
1039:
250:
and signalled a warning to the town's
Australian defenders before being shot down by anti-aircraft fire; it was the squadron's first combat loss.
1521:
1516:
912:
177:
345:. In March, a detachment of four No. 20 Squadron aircraft, along with four from No. 43 Squadron, laid mines off the coast of southern China and
1511:
1506:
1557:
399:
289:; the latter half of the year saw a greater focus on night bombing. Now comprising 252 officers and men, the squadron relocated to
1382:
986:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 2 (reprint ed.). Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
967:
278:
1032:
1003:. Units of the Royal Australian Air Force: A Concise History Volume 4. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
406:
recommended that, in common with other RAAF airfields, it should be administered by CSG. RAAF Base
Woomera, incorporating
1008:
929:
894:
176:, South Australia. The squadron originated as a maritime patrol unit during World War II. Raised in August 1941, it
864:
1025:
188:
837:
403:
1392:
410:, was one of two Air Force units formally established on 12 January 2015 as part of a reorganisation of the
945:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
243:
112:
411:
326:
165:
62:
395:
387:
213:
180:
144:
84:
407:
1542:
426:
370:, New South Wales, on 21 November. No. 20 Squadron flew its last mission, a transport flight to
295:
254:
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430:
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8:
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1062:
367:
264:
In response to the threat of invasion at Port
Moresby, Nos. 11 and 20 Squadrons moved to
107:
390:
member under the command of Squadron Leader Simon Bartlett, the squadron formed part of
422:
415:
290:
208:, New Guinea, on 1 August 1941 for a general reconnaissance role, under the command of
349:
as part of a No. 76 Wing offensive in this area; these operations were conducted from
1004:
987:
963:
946:
925:
906:
434:
265:
228:
173:
391:
314:
169:
80:
981:
940:
382:
No. 20 Squadron was reactivated on 1 April 2015 to support airfield operations at
30:
282:
209:
139:
305:
1536:
991:
977:
461:
286:
216:
flying boats and 133 personnel, but only five aircraft (all transferred from
950:
442:
268:, Queensland, on 7 May 1942. They were soon attacking Japanese targets in
221:
205:
184:
149:
309:
Catalinas of No. 20 Squadron (foreground) and No. 42 Squadron (background)
662:
299:
729:
727:
725:
616:
614:
577:
575:
495:
493:
491:
489:
487:
485:
483:
371:
350:
294:
changed in June 1943 when it commenced mine-laying operations over the
924:. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications.
398:(CSG). The airfield had previously been managed under the auspices of
722:
611:
355:
338:
572:
480:
238:
of the Pacific War on 8 December; a Catalina located three Japanese
438:
342:
302:, though it continued to make some bombing raids and supply drops.
273:
386:, South Australia. Consisting of nine uniformed personnel and one
698:
686:
650:
359:
1047:
560:
548:
536:
358:
harbour on 8 April and, on 26 May, four of its Catalinas mined
346:
247:
239:
235:
505:
374:, on 21 January 1946, and disbanded at Rathmines on 27 March.
674:
763:
587:
441:
star cluster, which features in the folklore of the local
421:
The design of the reactivated squadron's crest includes a
172:, it is responsible for the management of the airfield at
787:
269:
998:
816:
814:
733:
710:
668:
638:
626:
620:
599:
581:
499:
402:, but a command-and-control review commissioned by the
960:
Whispering Death: Australian Airmen in the Pacific War
526:
524:
522:
520:
799:
775:
751:
739:
168:(RAAF) support squadron. Coming under the control of
1553:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
811:
517:
962:. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
892:
704:
692:
656:
566:
554:
542:
511:
313:In September 1944, No. 20 Squadron became part of
1548:Military units and formations established in 1941
1534:
922:Flying Squadrons of the Australian Defence Force
224:flying boats transferred from No. 11 Squadron.
1033:
377:
1049:Royal Australian Air Force flying squadrons
911:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
227:On 25 November 1941, following the loss of
1040:
1026:
957:
938:
831:
829:
716:
680:
644:
632:
605:
593:
304:
212:W.N. Gibson. Its establishment was six
1535:
1500:Joint Netherlands-Australian squadrons
976:
919:
862:
835:
820:
805:
793:
781:
769:
757:
745:
530:
437:to represent South Australia, and the
1021:
826:
942:Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942
1558:1946 disestablishments in Australia
899:RAAF Unit History Sheets (Form A50)
400:Aerospace Operational Support Group
16:Royal Australian Air Force squadron
13:
454:
425:to denote courage and nobility, a
14:
1569:
901:. National Archives of Australia.
863:Curran, Aaron (29 January 2015).
466:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
999:RAAF Historical Section (1995).
29:
983:Air War Against Japan 1943–1945
856:
836:Curran, Aaron (26 April 2020).
199:
429:to symbolise the town and its
341:, during the campaign to mine
204:No. 20 Squadron was formed at
1:
886:
865:"Woomera's new lease of life"
1001:Maritime and Transport Units
734:RAAF Historical Section 1995
669:RAAF Historical Section 1995
621:RAAF Historical Section 1995
582:RAAF Historical Section 1995
500:RAAF Historical Section 1995
7:
893:No. 20 Squadron (1941–46).
259:No. 33 (Transport) Squadron
113:North Western Area Campaign
10:
1574:
939:Gillison, Douglas (1962).
194:
166:Royal Australian Air Force
63:Royal Australian Air Force
1499:
1401:
1055:
838:"20SQN rises out of dust"
468:. Australian War Memorial
388:Australian Public Service
378:Post-war re-establishment
138:
133:
125:
120:
100:
90:
76:
68:
58:
50:
40:
28:
23:
1383:Rescue and Communication
895:"Operations Record Book"
448:
958:Johnston, Mark (2011).
705:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
693:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
657:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
567:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
555:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
543:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
512:No. 20 Squadron 1941–46
416:RAAF Woomera Test Range
414:, the other unit being
296:Netherlands East Indies
920:Eather, Steve (1995).
462:"No. 20 Squadron RAAF"
368:RAAF Station Rathmines
310:
427:woomera spear thrower
412:Woomera Range Complex
335:Royal Australian Navy
308:
1403:Article XV squadrons
772:, pp. 356, 360.
396:Combat Support Group
331:Lieutenant Commander
85:Combat Support Group
24:No. 20 Squadron RAAF
796:, pp. 370–371.
683:, pp. 550–551.
596:, pp. 107–108.
253:In the wake of the
242:in the vicinity of
108:New Guinea Campaign
671:, pp. 19, 28.
435:Sturt's Desert Pea
423:wedge-tailed eagle
404:Chief of Air Force
311:
1530:
1529:
969:978-1-74175-901-3
394:, a component of
384:RAAF Base Woomera
333:P.E. Carr of the
174:RAAF Base Woomera
156:
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95:RAAF Base Woomera
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315:No. 76 Wing RAAF
279:official history
72:Airfield support
33:
21:
20:
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1393:Berlin Air Lift
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408:Woomera Village
380:
325:, and moved to
283:Solomon Islands
244:Thursday Island
218:No. 11 Squadron
210:Squadron Leader
202:
197:
189:Pacific theatre
162:No. 20 Squadron
159:
148:
45:
36:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1571:
1561:
1560:
1555:
1550:
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1543:RAAF squadrons
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978:Odgers, George
974:
968:
955:
936:
930:
917:
888:
885:
883:
882:
855:
825:
810:
808:, p. 371.
798:
786:
784:, p. 369.
774:
762:
760:, p. 365.
750:
748:, p. 359.
738:
721:
719:, p. 678.
709:
707:, p. 167.
697:
695:, p. 127.
685:
673:
661:
659:, p. 122.
649:
647:, p. 181.
637:
635:, p. 481.
625:
610:
608:, p. 108.
598:
586:
571:
559:
547:
535:
516:
504:
479:
452:
450:
447:
379:
376:
255:fall of Rabaul
201:
198:
196:
193:
157:
154:
153:
142:
136:
135:
134:Aircraft flown
131:
130:
129:RB (1941–1946)
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1523:
1522:No. 120 (NEI)
1520:
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1517:No. 119 (NEI)
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1010:0-644-42796-5
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823:, p. 54.
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795:
790:
783:
778:
771:
766:
759:
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747:
742:
736:, p. 29.
735:
730:
728:
726:
718:
717:Gillison 1962
713:
706:
701:
694:
689:
682:
681:Gillison 1962
677:
670:
665:
658:
653:
646:
645:Johnston 2011
641:
634:
633:Gillison 1962
629:
623:, p. 28.
622:
617:
615:
607:
606:Johnston 2011
602:
595:
594:Johnston 2011
590:
584:, p. 27.
583:
578:
576:
569:, p. 80.
568:
563:
557:, p. 42.
556:
551:
545:, p. 35.
544:
539:
533:, p. 53.
532:
527:
525:
523:
521:
513:
508:
502:, p. 26.
501:
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317:, along with
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287:New Caledonia
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158:Military unit
151:
146:
143:
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126:Squadron code
124:
119:
114:
111:
109:
106:
105:
104:World War II
103:
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39:
32:
27:
22:
19:
1512:No. 19 (NEI)
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77:Part of
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821:Eather 1995
806:Odgers 1968
794:Odgers 1968
782:Odgers 1968
770:Odgers 1968
758:Odgers 1968
746:Odgers 1968
531:Eather 1995
392:No. 96 Wing
300:Philippines
170:No. 96 Wing
152:(1941–1942)
147:(1941–1946)
101:Engagements
91:Garrison/HQ
81:No. 96 Wing
1537:Categories
887:References
433:heritage,
431:indigenous
372:Balikpapan
351:Leyte Gulf
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356:Hong Kong
339:Timor Sea
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266:Bowen
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164:is a
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988:OCLC
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